by Shawn F. Wiles, for Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — The die was cast early in the card at Monticello Raceway on Monday (Aug. 3) as front end speed held up for seven of the eight New York Sire Stakes contested for 3-year-old filly trotters.

Geri Schwarz photo

Barn Doll was a 1:58.1 winner for driver Jeff Gregory.

The bridge jumpers’ delight, Barn Doll, cruised to an easy win for regular driver Jeff Gregory in her $61,300 division as the Conway Hall filly won her eighth in a row. Her slate in 2015 reads nine starts, 8-1–0, 1:52.1s, with earnings of $260,374.

As the gate left, so did the entire field. Summer Scent wrestled her way to the lead, taking the field past the quarter in :29.1. Going into the paddock turn Gregory started to mount his challenge and had the lead past the half in 1:00.

Going down the backside, Frou Frou and driver Mark MacDonald came first over as Barn Doll tripped the three-quarter timer in an evenly rated 1:29. Dan Daley and Summer Scent were sitting the pocket, but as the field turned for home Gregory let Bard Doll out a notch and the filly put an instant five lengths on the field to score in 1:58.1 and return a paltry $2.10. She was barred from show wagering.

“She’s just amazing,” remarked driver Jeff Gregory in the winner’s circle following the win. She is co-owned by trainer Steven Pratt along with Nancy Pratt and Purple Haze Stables LLC.

In race four, first heat of the Sire Sires, going for a purse of $61,300, the Ken Jacobs filly Jewels In Hock was no different as she went wire-to-wire to score in 1:56.3, two ticks off the track record held by Gerri’s Joy of 1:56.1.

With regular driver John Campbell out due to a broken wrist, sustained last Friday in a 2-year-old race at the Meadowlands, owner Ken Jacobs put Jim Morrill Jr. down to drove his beautiful Credit Winner filly for trainer Linda Toscano. He was not disappointed.

Summers Windsong left hard for Ray Schnittker to grab the lead, followed by Waiting Room. Once the dust settled, Morrill, who was sitting third, tipped Jewels In Hock to the outside to take the lead and took the field through fractions of :28.4, :58.1 and 1:28.1 to win by 3-3/4 lengths in 1:56.3. She never had an anxious moment, trotting her last quarter in :28.2.

Excelsior A races

High Rise ($2.50) and Chris Lems scored in a wire-to-wire win in 2:00 for owner Raymond Campbell Jr. and trainer George Ducharme.

The second division went to Miss B’ville J ($5.20), giving the winning team of owner Ken Jacobs, driver Jim Morrill Jr. and trainer Linda Toscano a double for the afternoon. The daughter of RC Royalty took a lifetime mark of 1:58.1.

The last race of the day went to Country Chic ($20.40) in 2:00.4 to give Jeff Gregory his second win on the card.

Excelsior B races

Kaliska cut the mile, only to be overtaken by Kinda Naughty with local driver Bruce Aldrich Jr., who used the passing lane to get by Kaliska to score in 2:01.4.

Tootsie Bi gave Jim Devaux his second win of the card. The Conway Hall filly worked hard to get the lead, but once she did, she never looked back as she won in 2:02.2.

In race nine, final division of the Excelsior B, trainer Dave Dewhurst got his second win of the afternoon. Untangled Cash ($6.80) made a bold move past the half to overtake Mo Titos Blue Chip and was on cruise control from there, coasting to a 2-3/4 length win in 2:01.2.